Prison escapee caught in Easton

An Easton man who escaped from a central Pennsylvania prison facility Tuesday night was caught in Wilson Borough after about 12 hours on the lam, according to Wilson police.

MICHAEL BUCK

An Easton man who escaped from a central Pennsylvania prison facility Tuesday night was caught in Wilson Borough after about 12 hours on the lam, according to Wilson police.

Franklin Barndt, 34, was a passenger in a car police pulled over on North 17th Street, police said. Takesha Piazza, of Easton, who is Barndt's wife, was driving, police said.

Wilson Police Chief Steven Parkansky said charges are pending against Piazza. Wilson police turned him over to the U.S. Marshals Service, Parkansky said.

Barndt went missing about 9 p.m. Tuesday from the forestry camp at the State Correctional Institution-Rockview in Centre County. Sue Bensinger, spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, said they considered Barndt to be a "walk away" instead of an escapee.

Barndt is serving a three- to six-year sentence for possession with intent to deliver cocaine.

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